Climbing / Mountaineering
Climbing in Estes Park is a fun experience in an area that has a lot of history. Joel Estes first visited the area on a hunting trip in 1859, when he decided to set up a cattle ranch in the valley for his family to run. The park is, of course, named after the Estes family.
Local Listings:
Climbing is a popular activity in the Rocky Mountain National Park area, and has been since the 1800s. The Rockies offer the climber many different peaks and granite rock formations that allow for a wide range of climbing opportunities, including rock, big wall, snow and ice, bouldering, and mountaineering. The park attracts local climbers and those visiting from around the world. You can climb in many different areas of the park, including Lumpy Ridge and Longs Peak.
Rocky Mountain National Park has a long history of climbing, and the area as a whole has long had a tradition for ethical climbing to protect the resources of its users. Local climbers are against the placement of bolts on existing routes or starting new routes, and chipping or gluing new holds.
Clean-climbing techniques are the most acceptable form of climbing. The resident climbing community and the park have made it their duty to teach visiting climbers how to protect and properly maintain access to all climbing areas.